An interesting artefact of Hancock's celebrated interview by John Freeman (1915-2014), broadcast on 7 February 1960 in the BBC series 'Face to Face'. From the papers of the programme's producer Hugh Burnett (1924-2011). During the half-hour interview an earnest and humourless Hancock responded frankly to Freeman's questions about his life and work. Hancock had always been highly self-critical, and it has been argued that the interview exacerbated this tendency, contributing to his later difficulties.

1p., 8vo. In good condition, lightly aged and worn. Obtrusive stamp at head giving the date of receipt as 28 November 1979, with this date queried in ink. Benn's signature underlined by the recipient in thin red ink. Reads: 'Dear Mrs Kingham: | Forgive the delay. | My life-style is that of a very hard-working M.P. with a wife who teaches & writes & 4 children educated at comprehensive schools. | You shouldn't believe the rubbish you read in the press.'

All items from 1947. From various locations in England, including the following in London: The Air Ministry, Adastral House. W. J. Macqueen-Pope, 359 Strand. Ralph Reader Limited, Astoria House, Shaftesbury Avenue, London.

£1,500.00

It seems curious that so little information should have survived regarding this 'mammoth show', one of Ralph Reader's 'gigantic pageants', 'sponsored by the Air Council' in the immediate aftermath of the Second World War, performed at the Royal Albert Hall and in the provinces, and in which Tony Hancock played an early and prominent part (in four roles, see Item Nine below).

All correspondence from 20 The Common, Ealing, W5 [ London ]. Between 1956 and 1969. Duncan's letters from London and Southampton.

£450.00

34 Typed Letters (25 signed) and 14 Typed Cards (6 signed). Most of the 31 signatures 'Jimmy', but a few signed 'Jimmy Lynton' and 'Jimmy L.' The collection in good condition, lightly aged and worn. Long gossippy letters, mainly comprising theatrical reminiscence, often with reference to his regular column in 'The World's Fair, called 'P & Fs'. Also present are 37 carbon copies of letters to Lynton from Duncan, covering the same date range, also filled with theatrical information (Duncan was also a theatre historian and author of a book on the St James' Theatre).

George Sanders (1906-1972), English film actor; John Paddy Carstairs [ born John Keys ] (1910-1970), film director, and his brother Tony Keys, film producer associated with Hammer Films

Publication details:

No place [ Twickenham Film Studios]. April 1939.

£90.00

The three inscriptions are all on one side of an 18 x 16 cm leaf taken from an album. In good condition, lightly-aged. Given during the shooting of the RKO film 'The Saint in London' (1939), which Sanders starred in and Carstairs directed. Sanders writes, at the head of the page, 'To Anne | I want to see you in about 8 years time! | George Sanders | April 1939.' Beneath this is: 'Anne - let's make it seven! | John Paddy Carstairs: | '39.' And beneath Carstairs' inscription: 'Six years. X. | Tony Keys'. The recipient was the daughter off a cameraman at Twickenham Film Studios.

Both items in good condition, with minor signs of age and wear. The black and white photographic print is 24.5 x 19.5 cm, and depicts a chubby Hall, in shirtsleeves and tie, leaning over a seat at the back of a darkened theatre, with a positive look of concentration on his face, as he stares at the stage, a playscript in his hand. The reverse carries two stamps by 'Tony Armstrong Jones, one of them declaring his copyright. Also on the reverse are pencil calculations of dimensions for cropping for publication.

[Group IV; Working Men's College, Camden, London; Sketch Club; Keith Grant [Keith Frederick Grant] (b.1930), landscape painter, born in Liverpool, who studied at the Royal College of Art, 1955-1958]

Publication details:

[Working Men's College, Camden, London.] July 1958.

£350.00

An interesting and scarce item. There are no copies of any issues of this magazine on either OCLC WorldCat or COPAC, and there is no record whatsoever of 'Group IV' itself. Now acknowledged as one of Britain's finest landscape painters, Keith Grant joined the Working Men's College on finishing his National Service with the RAF; he then enrolled at Willesden Art School, before joining the Royal College of Art, where he studied under Colin Hayes, John Minton and Kenneth Rowntree. 22pp., 4to.